Sat alone, a boy quite in nature, not speaking. His head held down deep into his desk. Not being focused into his school work. He attended private school, his mother courageously broke her back for him to have a better education. This opportunity would be a chance for him to focus. Although yes, he has shoes that are great, the snobs could not understand why they aren’t Saint Laurent. His clothes may have came from thrift shopping but allowed him not to go cold. It still was not good enough to fit into his social setting.

He was often tormented by people that had clothes better than him. He comes from a background where his Auntie was addicted on heroin. His father left off to join the army back in Iraq, just for him to be killed in action. Being sixteen, he harbors in his mind of going into the streets. Not because it is the cool thing to do, only because he wants to be able to keep up with the Jones.

His tormentors often called him names, saying, “you do not belong in this school.“ you are a  low life scum, that came from the pits of the projects”. Others that sat around these words got a laugh out of it. The laughing carried on for at-least 60 seconds. Some teachers sat back and watched until the first punch was thrown. The boy snapped and threw a punch so hard it knocked his harasser on the floor. Only for him to get on top of his harasser and beat him to a bloody smear that splattered across the floor. A teacher had to interject, screaming his name.

“Tommy ! Tommy !”

She tried pulling him off but he would not let. Seeing his moms cry from a hospital bill she had. Only to afford cancer treatments for his one year old brother. Tommy anger would not let up, security had to rush in to break the situation up. The harasser had to be seen from others as he laid on the floor. Half dazed, in astonishment to what just happened in the haymakers that left him nodding off.

The principal had to come out of his office, this fight was bad. They end up calling the police as Tommy sat in the office. Waiting for his judgement to be heard. At this point, Tommy knew that his track record does not look good. He skipped class a couple times in order not to go to school. He got tired of being seen as an outsider. His mother did not want to let the teachers know of their personal dealings. As this would take away from the child’s education and the way he is seen.

Tommy had a grandmother that was the first African-American lady to finish college as a social worker. Before she passed, she knew that the family had seen much struggle and strife. With the economy getting even harder for them. Tommy even felt like more of an outside because he went to school with mainly caucasians, as he was a dark skinned.

Tommy got suspended, that same day, he commited suicide. Tommy being an outsider was not able to fit in.  His soul was tired on that day.